“Wretch!” said the secret voice within, “darest thou exult in thy shame? Recollect how thy youth and fortune was wasted in those years, and triumph not in the enjoyment of an existence which levelled thee with the beasts that perish. Bethink thee how this poor man’s vanity gave at least bread to the labourer, peasant, and citizen; and his profuse expenditure, like water spilt on the ground, refreshed the lowly herbs and plants where it fell. But thou! Whom hast thou enriched during thy career of extravagance, save those brokers of the devil--vintners, panders, gamblers, and horse-jockeys?” The anguish produced by this self-reproof was so strong that I put my hand suddenly to my forehead, and was obliged to allege a sudden megrim to my attendant, in apology for the action, and a slight groan with which it was accompanied. I then made an effort to turn my thoughts into a more philosophical current, and muttered half aloud, as a charm to lull any more painful thoughts to rest,-- “NUNC AGER UMBRENI SUB NOMINE, NUPER OFELLI DICTUS ERIT NULLI PROPRIUS; SED CEDIT IN USUM NUNC MIHI, NUNC ALII. QUOCIRCA VIVITE FORTES, FORTIAQUE ADVERSIS OPPONITE PECTORA REBUS.” [Horace Sat.II Lib.2. The meaning will be best conveyed to the English reader in Pope’s imitation:-- “What’s property, dear Swift? You see it alter From you to me, from me to Peter Walter; Or in a mortgage prove a lawyer’s share; Or in a jointure vanish from the heir. ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** “Shades, that to Bacon could retreat afford, Become the portion of a booby lord; And Helmsley, once proud Buckingham’s delight, Slides to a scrivener and city knight. Let lands and houses have what lords they will, Let us be fix’d, and our own masters still.”] In my anxiety to fix the philosophical precept in my mind, I recited the last line aloud, which, joined to my previous agitation, I afterwards found became the cause of a report that a mad schoolmaster had come from Edinburgh, with the idea in his head of buying Castle Treddles. As I saw my companion was desirous of getting rid of me, I asked where I was to find the person in whose hands were left the map of the estate, and other particulars connected with the sale. The agent who had this in possession, I was told, lived at the town of --, which I was informed, and indeed knew well, was distant five miles and a bittock, which may pass in a country where they are less lavish of their land for two or three more. Being somewhat afraid of the fatigue of walking so far, I inquired if a horse or any sort of carriage was to be had, and was answered in the negative. “But,” said my cicerone, “you may halt a blink till next morning at the Treddles Arms, a very decent house, scarce a mile off.” “A new house, I suppose?” replied I.